Tales from the Journey: How We Handle Travel Mishaps

We’ve all faced it. You organize an ideal trip, and then something unexpectedly goes awry. It could be a worldwide tech failure, a bizarre weather delay when it’s not even raining, or something frightening like theft. Other times, it’s amusing, like hopping off the bus at the wrong stop. Then there are the times you find yourself stranded for four days with no food in a powerless hotel room in a tiny beach town in Baja, Mexico, while a hurricane wreaks havoc around you. I assure you, that first taste of a fish taco when we finally emerged and restaurants reopened was the most delicious bite I’ve ever had. We had to cancel our ferry across the Sea of Cortez and book a flight to Mexico City, but it was exhilarating to adapt and improvise.

I discovered that peanut butter and bananas make excellent survival snacks, and that there’s always tranquility after the chaos. Hang in there, adjust your plans, and everything will turn out fine. You never know what adventures are in store. Here’s what our Dinogo Planet team has encountered on their travels and how they’ve tackled challenges, relied on the generosity of friends and strangers, and lived to share their tales.

Embrace an unexpected final day

Serina Patel, Marketing Manager 

Last year, I was set to fly from Seoul back to New York. My flight was scheduled for 4 p.m., but when I woke up at 8 a.m., I discovered that my flight had been canceled. What a shock! I was all set for that 14-hour journey. Thankfully, the airline rebooked me on the first flight the following day, so I decided to spend the day with a good friend and her mother. They treated me to a fantastic meal – I devoured 5lbs of Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables) – did some shopping (and wiped out the Olive Young store), and enjoyed the most leisurely final day of my trip. When was the last time you had a chill last day of travel? For me, it’s never! They’re usually packed with anxiety and sadness about leaving. But not this time!

What I learned: Embrace the unexpected—go with the flow! Changes are a regular part of travel. By adapting, you can turn a situation into a memorable experience.

Top tip for traveling to Seoul: There’s a bus that goes directly from various neighborhoods in Seoul to the airport! You can pay cash when you board, so no need for advance planning or reservations.

Stay grounded and avoid getting too comfortable 

Rachel Lewis, Senior Social Media Manager

My wife and I took a quick trip from North Carolina to NYC. It’s a journey we’ve made several times, so we weren’t particularly anxious or on edge; nothing to worry about, right? Unfortunately, we were a bit too laid-back, to the extent that we parked, casually walked into the terminal, cleared security, made our way to our gate... only to find out our gate wasn’t there. Somehow, we ended up in the completely wrong terminal. Cue the panic. We hurried, asked an airport staff member for directions, and a very helpful man guided us to the fastest route to switch terminals. Back through security we rushed again. 

What I learned: Avoid getting too comfortable and ensure you have TSA Pre-Check! Without it, we definitely would have missed our flight. 

Top tip for visiting NYC: Whenever I’m in NYC, I prefer to choose one neighborhood and truly dive into it. Otherwise, I find myself overwhelmed by all the options. 

Enjoy the sandwich regardless

Ann Douglas Lott, Associate Editor

I'm working on overcoming this intense fear of being perceived as a bad tourist. I aim to explore places the 'right' way without violating any unspoken customs. In Italy, for instance, you don’t cut your pasta – you twirl it on your fork. Flip-flops are reserved for the beach. You greet shopkeepers upon entering their shops. One day, I stepped out of my hotel in Venice, feeling exhausted, hungry, alone, and anxious about where to start. By chance, I stumbled upon the ideal sandwich shop. As I walked away confidently, savoring my sandwich, a seagull swooped down and snatched a big bite. First rule of eating in Venice: watch out for the gulls. A woman passing by gasped in surprise. Fantastic. Now all eyes were on me. I could have cried from embarrassment and fatigue. But I took a deep breath, flipped the sandwich around, and kept eating. It turned out to be the best thing I tasted during my entire trip.

What I learned: No one is really paying that much attention to what you do. Just be respectful and strive to understand local customs, and you'll be forgiven if you make mistakes (and you will). You'll have a lot more fun with this mindset.

Top tip for visiting Venice: Everything you need to know is right here.

Travel insurance + flexibility = successful extended layovers

Jessica Lockhart, Destination Editor, Oceana

In April 2024, I was traveling from Dublin to Brisbane with a layover in Dubai when devastating floods made passing through Dubai impossible. Arriving at the airport in the morning for my 4 p.m. flight, I discovered the departure was delayed until 3 a.m. 

From past experiences, I knew I could end up spending days in queues and sleeping at the airport, so even though my flight hadn't officially been canceled, I sensed trouble ahead. A quick look at social media updates from the Dubai airport confirmed my flight would likely be canceled. A rapid search for nearby hotels revealed they were mostly fully booked. I had to act FAST. 

Thankfully, my travel insurance policy (stored in an easily accessible email folder) covers hotel stays for delays of six hours or more. I saw it as a win-win: if my flight left at 3 a.m., I’d have a cozy place to wait, and if it got canceled, I’d enjoy a restful night.

I hurried to a hotel and snagged the very last room! Just as I entered the lobby, I received a notification from Emirates confirming my flight was officially canceled. 

Ultimately, I didn’t leave Dublin until five days later, but it was the most stress-free delay I’ve ever experienced. I was relaxed in my comfy hotel room, and knowing it was beyond my control eased the situation. Thousands were affected by the floods, and recognizing that the airline was doing its best under such unfortunate circumstances kept stress at bay. 

What I learned: Always have travel insurance and be aware of what it covers. Annual plans can be more cost-effective for frequent travelers and even cover domestic travel mishaps. (My luggage was lost on this trip, so my annual plan more than compensated for itself!) 

Additionally, while I typically book my own flights, this trip was arranged by Dinogo Planet's travel agent. She saved me hours and a lot of stress in rebooking and was essential in helping me get home. I might just start using travel agents from now on! 

Above all, maintain grace and patience when faced with circumstances beyond the airline's control, such as floods or strikes. Getting upset won’t speed things up. During my unexpected five-day stay in Dublin, I had the chance to explore more than I initially planned, which turned the situation into a silver lining. Yes, I cried a bit, but I also embraced an unexpected adventure.

Top tip for traveling in Dublin: While waiting to figure out my departure, I stayed at a few hotels near the airport, but I truly adored the family-run Kettles Country House! It’s just a short 10-minute drive from the airport, and it's much cozier and cleaner than the typical airport hotels. I highly recommend it if you find yourself with a layover or need accommodation close to Dublin.

Understand the local rules of the road and always carry cash

Deepa Lakshmin, Director of Social Media 

Imagine this: you're on a road trip with a friend, cruising through Portugal from Porto to Lisbon. You decide to spend a night in Coimbra, enjoying a meal at a restaurant recommended by a fellow Dinogo Planet team member. After indulging in a feast of seafood, you return to where you think you parked your rental car, only to find the door won't open. Your keys fail to work, and peering inside reveals an interior you don’t recognize. A lightbulb moment—this isn’t your car! 

As it turns out, you parked behind it on a pedestrian crosswalk, which led to the police towing it while you dined. You discover this when you head back to the restaurant and speak to the one server who understands English. He goes the extra mile to confirm that yes, your car has been towed, and he even contacts the police for you, speaking in Portuguese to get the necessary details. 

You use the popular ride-sharing app in Portugal, Bolt, to summon a ride to the police station where your car is held. At the station, the officers check your ID and inform you of a charge of 195 euros for the parking violation and towing. Their credit card machine is down, but fortunately, you have cash on hand, so you manage to leave with your car. You drive back to your hostel, wallet a bit lighter but grateful to have your wheels back.

What did you learn: Always double and triple-check parking regulations in your travel destination, as they can vary greatly from what you’re used to. If you find a questionable spot, don’t hesitate to ask a local! Additionally, keep cash available and download essential apps (like I did with Bolt) before your trip. While Uber operates in Portugal, Bolt tends to be more affordable and quicker.

Essential tip for traveling in Portugal: There are countless day trip options between Lisbon and Porto. Renting a car allows you to explore at your leisure—when we were pressed for time, we simply drove through the town square to soak in the atmosphere. However, you can also take trains to most destinations, making parking a non-issue.

Embrace it or abandon it

Brekke Fletcher, Senior Director of Content 

It happened to me: I'm watching the news as a storm approaches. My flight is scheduled for 4 PM. I check all the apps, and it looks like everything is good to go. Off to the airport I go, breeze through security, spend $46 on Cheetos and a Smart Water, and then wait. The first delay hits at 3:30, then 4, then 4:15, and finally it’s 5:30, and they start boarding. Your phone buzzes with alerts: 'Multiple delays and cancellations in NYC.' But it's fine; you're boarding. You think you’ll make it. It’s 7 PM, and they close the boarding doors. We push back, but the captain announces there will be a delay. By 9 PM, they turn us back to the gate and cancel the flight completely.

I’m texting everyone except Santa Claus for advice on what to do, but deep down, as an experienced traveler, I know it's time to let go. There aren’t any flights available for three days – and the whole trip was just five days long. I realized I couldn't get a refund, but I could probably secure a credit and rebook. Those vacation days could be saved for another time.

What did you learn: First off, I'm incredibly fortunate to have a flexible job. Thank you, Dinogo Planet! I learned that stressing out, panicking, or crying about it only harms me. I figured out how to step away when things just aren't going my way.

Top tip for handling airport delays: You can do everything right, like I did, by checking the weather, flight status, and airport conditions. Don’t wait in line. Don’t shout at anyone. Accept your situation, go home, and plan to fly another day.